ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES

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1 ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES Founded in 1973, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. As a non-profit 501(c)3, the Council receives funding from federal and private sources. The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders. Through innovative partnerships and grantmaking, the Council connects and cultivates the state s tremendous cultural resources to help make Rhode Island a vital place to live and work. Our work is based on the conviction that history, literature, philosophy, civics, the arts, and other fields of the humanities are central not only to formal education, but to the daily lives of free and diverse people in a strong democracy. Since 1973, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities has awarded over $8 million in grants to support more than 1,650 grants and have supported more than 650 community organizations and individuals throughout the state of Rhode Island. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders have participated in Council-funded activities, including community conversations, workshops and lectures, new media technology, museum interpretations and exhibitions, walking-tours, radio shows, oral histories, documentary films, and many more. For more information, please contact Development & Communications Officer, Rachael Jeffers at rachael@rihumanities.org. Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated:

2 PROGRAMS Grants The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities Grantemaking Program funds nonprofit organizations and individual researchers to stimulate new research in the humanities, spark thoughtful community exchange, build new audiences for the humanities, innovate new methods in the humanities, and advocate for the importance of the humanities for a lively and engaged democratic public. Funding areas include: Public Projects, Decumentary Film, K-12 Civic Education, and Individual Research. Major grants for requests over $2,000 to nonprofit organizations and schools are awarded annually, while mini grants are awarded quarterly. Rhode Island Center for the Book The Rhode Island Center for the Book is a statewide organization devoted to promoting personal and community enrichment by celebrating the art and heritage of reading, writing, making, and sharing books among people of all ages and backgrounds across Rhode Island. Founded in 2003, RI Center for the Book is an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and through a variety of programs and activities, connects communities, appreciates imagination and craft, and encourages exploration of the written word. This is achieved through four signature programs: Reading Across Rhode Island, Kids Reading Across Rhode island, Letters About Literature, and Art of the Book. Learn more at ribook.org Rhode Tour Rhode Tour is a smartphone application and website that tells stories about Rhode Island, making history matter today. A joint initiative of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Brown University s John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage, and the Rhode Island Historical Society, Rhode Tour brings mapping technology, sound, images, videos and well-told stories together to engage visitors, residents, and students. RHODE TOUR With 17 tours produced, Rhode Tour has already leveraged over $40,000 in additional, non-neh funds for six new tours and school curricula to go with them. The app also helps small history sites and scholars get authentic and relevant stories out to the public without reinventing the digital wheel. Learn more about Rhode Tour and download the app at rihumanities.org/program/rhode-tour/ Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated:

3 Catalyzing Culture: Catalyzing Newport Catalyzing Newport is building a new vision for the city s cultural sector. By placing our renowned cultural organizations, leaders, and assets at the forefront of community conversations about Newport s development and prosperity, we work together to imagine a Newport whose future is rich in culture, civic life, and economic opportunities. In 2016, over 750 participants in Catalyzing Newport events and programs utilized humanities methods to address challenges and opportunities in the Newport region. Catalyzing Newport is supported by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation and facilitated by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. The goals of this collective impact project include: Providing meaningful access to Newport and Rhode Island history for broader audiences Leveraging the cultural sector s assets toward a shared community vision Establishing a model for cultural and historical organizations to contribute to new economies locally, nationally, and internationally Strengthening the ability of Newport s cultural sector to diversity its revenue streams and attract greater resources Learn more at catalyzingnewport.org Expansion Arts Program The Expansion Arts Program (EAP) is a capacitybuilding initiative supporting community-based, ethnocultural arts and cultural organizations across Rhode Island. The EAP provides the skills and tools these organizations need to grow as equal partners in the Rhode Island arts and cultural community. These organizations are recognized for the broader role they play in strengthening their communities in the areas of cultural preservation, education, and youth development. A collaboration between the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and the Rhode Island Foundation, the Expansion Arts Program has been providing grants and technical assistance to diverse communities throughout the state for over 30 years. Grantees are selected as part of a three-year cohort, each receiving a $10,000 grant each year for three years, access to professional consultants, workshops, and leadership development opportunities. In 2016, four organizations were selected to participate in Expansion Arts: RI Cape Verdean Heritage Colombian American Cultural Society India Association of Rhode Island Laotian Community Center of Rhode Island Learn more about Rhode Island s Expansion Arts Program at rifoundation.org/workingtogether/fornonprofits/grantopportunities/expansionarts.aspx Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated:

4 BOARD LISTING POLLY HUTCHESON, CHAIR Director of Sponsored Programs, Roger Williams University TOUBA GHADESSI, PHD, VICE-CHAIR Associate Professor of Art History, Wheaton College JEAN PATIKY, SECRETARY Fundraising Consultant, RI Chamber Music Concerts, Manton Avenue Project, RI Philharmonic Music School GINA MCDONALD, CPA, TREASURER Senior Consultant, Fiscal Management Associates REENIE BARROW Photographer/Artist PHOEBE BEAN, MLS Librarian, Rhode Island Historical Society CHRISTINA BEVILAQUA Independent Cultural Curator and Producer WINIFRED BROWNELL, PHD Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, University of Rhode Island DANIEL CAVICCHI, PHD Associate Provost of Research Global Practice, Rhode Island School of Design C. ALEXANDER CHIULLI, ESQ Attorney at Law, Barton Gilman LLP SHAWN A. CHRISTIAN, PHD Associate Provost, Associate Professor of English & African American Studies, Wheaton College ELAINE B. FAIN, MD Physician and Community Volunteer MICHAEL R. FEIN, PHD Assistant Dean, John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences, Johnson & Wales University JESSICA KOWAL Business Trainer, CSC MetLife KENNETH C. NEWMAN Independent Consultant JULIE NORA, PHD Director, International Charter School MARY LEE PARTINGTON Artistic Director, Pawtucket Arts Festival REBECCA R. RILEY Consultant/Philanthropic Advisor JOHN SIMMONDS Director, Quality Assurance Management at Fidelity Investments JONATHAN STEVENS Planning Director, Town of Cumberland DAVID SYRONEY, ESQ, CTFA President Trust Administration Manager, Washington Trust Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated:

5 STAFF BIOGRAPHIES ELIZABETH FRANCIS, Executive Director As Executive Director of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Elizabeth Francis leads the Council s promotion of public history, cultural heritage, civic education and community engagement. She works with the Council s board of directors and leaders in government, higher education, and cultural organizations to connect humanities resources and perspectives with challenges and opportunities in the state. Overseeing the Council s relationship with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Elizabeth helps to position the Council s work more broadly as well as to build public-private partnerships. Before her role at the Council, Elizabeth was director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Brown University for 10 years. She earned her doctorate in American Studies at Brown, and her book, The Secret Treachery of Words: Feminism and Modernism in America, was published by the University of Minnesota Press in She completed her bachelor s degree at Hampshire College. Elizabeth taught at Brown and the University of Rhode Island. In addition, she has been on the board of the International Charter School in Pawtucket, RI, and chaired the Grants Committee as a member of the board at RICH. As a member of the RI Commerce Corporation board in , Elizabeth co-authored a strategic plan to develop the creative and cultural economy. She is a Community Fellow at the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University and Vice President of the Community Advisory Board for Rhode Island PBS. In 2017, she joined the Advisory Council for the Dirt Palace at the Wedding Cake House, a project led by this feminist art collective to redevelop and renovate the famed historic building on Broadway in Providence s West End. LOGAN HINDERLITER, Program Officer, Grants & Partnerships As Program Officer of Grants & Partnerships, Logan Hinderliter helps to facilitate the grants program, develop the Council s humanities programs, maintain the organization s archive, and support Board engagement. Logan also assists in the development and implementation of special projects and grants. Originally from Northwestern Pennsylvania, Logan has lived in southeast New England for six years. A graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, MA, Logan studied Classics and Early Modern Art History. While at Wheaton, he was a founding member of the Wheaton Institute for the Interdisciplinary Humanities, serving as a student member of the advisory board, a digital content and strategy outreach assistant, and an alumni member of the advisory board. More recently, Logan worked as the strategy and communications intern for the Council and as the organization s program coordinator and associate. Logan resides in the Edgewood neighborhood of Cranston. Loving cafes, libraries, historical sites, live music, and community events, he is ever out and about the great state of Rhode Island. Logan is an Eagle Scout and member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. He frequently hikes and spends time taking advantage of New England s natural resources. Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated:

6 RACHAEL JEFFERS, Development & Communications Officer As Development & Communications Officer for the Council, Rachael brings a wealth of experience to the role, including in annual giving, strategic communications, volunteer management, social media and marketing, grantwriting, and development events. Most recently she has been Development and Communications Coordinator at Victoria Mansion in Portland, ME and Museum Services Manager at Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, ME. Prior to that, she was part of a multi-million dollar campaign at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. She earned a MA in Public Humanities at Brown University and a BA in History at Guilford College with minors in Peace and Conflict Studies and Community Studies. Rachael is passionate about communicating the value of public humanities programs both locally and nationally. She draws inspiration from the courage of communities willing to use the humanities to address challenging and pressing issues in creative ways. Rachael s public humanities experience encompasses education, research and interpretation, including for the I Was There project at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in Providence, winner of the Council s 2014 Innovation Award. Rachael s family has deep roots in Providence and she is happy to call the city home once again. In her free time, she enjoys photography, outdoor adventures, travel and time spent with family and friends. KATE LENTZ, Director, Rhode Island Center for the Book Kate s professional background as a classroom teacher, school librarian, and coordinator of the popular Rhode Island Festival of Children s Books and Authors led organically in to her current position as Director of the Rhode Island Center for the Book. Along with hundreds of volunteers, she coordinates the Center for the Book s programs, including: Reading Across Rhode Island, Kids Reading Across Rhode Island, Letters About Literature, and Art of the Book. Kate has initiated successful partnerships with the Rhode Island Festival of Children s Books and Authors, the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, the Rhode Island Department of Education, and the Charles H. Watts II History and Culture of the Book Program. She advocates zealously for Rhode Island s libraries and represents the state of Rhode Island at the National Book Festival and the Library of Congress Annual State Centers Meeting, both in Washington, D.C. Kate holds a master s degree in Children s Literature from Simmons College and a bachelor s degree with English and French double major from Kenyon College. Kate has volunteered in her sons local school communities for over fifteen years as an officer of their school PTOs and is currently a board member of the Michael Flanagan Foundation and past board member of the Barrington Educational Foundation. Rhode Island Council for the Humanities rihumanities.org Updated: